Camera 2 is the new app from the developers behind the hugely popular Paper Camera. The app adds real-time effects to camera shots, photos already stored on your device and even live video. There are 25 different effects to choose from, including some scratchy 1920 footage, eerie 1950’s B-Movie style and even a Matrix-esque science fiction filter! OK, so it’s a fun app you might not use all the time, but for adding some extreme effects to your pictures, you have to check this out! Price: $2.99Tested on: Nexus 4Content Rating: Low Maturity

Pros & Cons:

Features:

Camera 2 is a real-time effects application that lets you add extremely cool filters to video and images. In many ways it is a slicker and more advanced version of the developers first application, Paper Camera. In many ways, it completely re-imagines the design away from the paper-theme and towards a smoother interface. One of the first things I noticed was the transitions between effects; everything is very buttery, fluid and user friendly. There are several filter headings to choose from and each contain a number of different filters. There’s Old Time which gives you image and video effects from the 1920’s, 1940’s, 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s and even a grainy VHS video style for the 1980’s! These effects are stunning and look really well designed. Then you have a number of neat Lomo filters which look very cool indeed, Comic, in many ways expands the popular ‘comic’ filter from within Paper Camera, now with 4 different styles to choose from. Art makes your images look hand-painted while Sci-Fi includes the Matrix ‘Green Rain’ effect mentioned earlier. Finally, Computer provides a number of old-school PC effects: characters, monochrome, CGA, EGA and VGA. Here’s an example of the 1960’s video filter: http://youtu.be/G9ghqnwMJ2c Perhaps the coolest thing about these filters is that you get to see them all side-by side. For example, with Lomo, all 8 filters come up on one view, meaning you can quickly compare which looks the best for your picture. The interface really comes into its own here too as you can swipe to switch filters to zoom out to see them all. The transitions are fantastic here and very smooth. You can apply the filters to existing images, real-time camera shots and live video. There’s no function to convert existing video, but I’m guessing this is quite an intensive request for a mobile app. There are probably hundreds of photo editing applications out there but JDFP Labs make apps that really stand out. On one hand this means the app is a little ‘novelty’ and perhaps not something you would use all the time- it also lacks editing features you find in other apps such as Snapseed and PicShop. That said, the filters in Camera 2 are like nothing you have seen elsewhere and highly original. While I think the price of the app is quite expensive, I think it can be justified (only just though!). It’s an incredibly slick and gorgeous application to use and something you should definitely consider checking out. 1920’s film sample: http://youtu.be/CKPD3Ck_gY4

Camera 2 – Lomo landscape

Camera 2 – 1980 landscape

Camera 2 – Computer selection

Camera 2 – Comic selection

Camera 2 – Lomo selection

Camera 2 – Old Time choices

Camera 2 – Sci-Fi selection

Camera 2 – 1920

Camera 2 – Art pic

Camera 2 – 1980 portrait

Camera 2 – Original

Camera 2 – Characters, with menu

Usefulness:

The app is used for adding effects to existing images or live photos or video. There are loads of filters to try and each can add something cool to your media. It’s perhaps not going to replace you go-to photo editor, but it will be something you’ll itch to find a reason to use.

Ease of Use:

Camera 2 is incredibly simple to use. It’s very polished and effortless to navigate. Being able to see various filters along side each other is also very handy.

Frequently Used:

Like I mentioned, it isn’t going to replace you existing photo editing tool but it’s a great compliment. Since downloading the app just a day or so ago, I’ve actually been looking for reasons to play with it.

Interface:

The interface is gorgeous and very nicely designed. Paper Camera had a distinct theme to it which perhaps held it back from a long-term perspective. Camera 2, however, looks incredibly glossy. I seriously hope more camera applications adopt some of this slickness!

AndroidTapp.com Rating

(4.7 out of 5) Should you Download Camera 2? At $2.99, Camera 2 is quite pricey, but you do get a premium app that is sure to be updated and tweaked in the future by a top developer. If you love photography on your Android and like trying out new effects, definitely check this out. It looks great, feels brilliant to use and adds something really special to your media.